Skip to main content

Learn to Program With Scratch Makes Coding Easy

No Starch Press has announced the release of Learn to Program with Scratch this month for $34.95. Read on.


 From the Press Release

Technological knowledge is more important today than ever, with even President Obama asking more students to learn to code. According to Code.org, computing occupations are among the highest-paying jobs for new graduates, yet fewer than 3 percent of college students earn a degree in computer science. In 36 states, computer science classes aren't even high school graduation requirements. There's clearly a disconnect here.

Aspiring programmers are often overwhelmed because they think they need to learn complex, text-based languages in order to code. Ultimately, many give up or turn to expensive crash courses, when all they really need is a painless place to start, like this new book from No Starch Press. In Learn to Program with Scratch (No Starch Press, Feb 2014, 288 pp., $34.95, ISBN 9781593275433), readers can learn how to code without getting in over their heads (and without breaking the bank).

Scratch is a language traditionally reserved for teaching kids how to code using visual blocks instead of typed commands. However, this surprisingly powerful programming language can make computer science approachable for anyone. In Learn to Program with Scratch, author Majed Marji highlights the unexpected power of this simple but fun language as readers learn to:

  • Harness the power of repeat loops and recursion
  • Use if/else statements and logical operators to make decisions
  • Store data in variables and lists to use later in their program
  • Read, store, and manipulate user input
  • Implement key computer science algorithms like linear searches and bubble sorts

Computer programming can be difficult, but Scratch makes learning core concepts easy for everyone. At last, the rest of us have a book to build the foundation for code literacy.

To learn more, visit the official Learn to Program website.

Popular posts from this blog

Massive Fortnite Update v42.10: Everything Arriving on September 3

Epic Games is rolling out one of its most expansive patches to date with the release of the Fortnite v42.10 update. Main downtime for the update begins at 4:00 AM Eastern Time on September 3, 2026, with servers remaining offline for approximately two to three hours. Players across the globe will experience brief maintenance windows tailored to their time zones, including 9:00 AM in the United Kingdom, 10:00 AM in South Africa, 4:00 PM in the Philippines, 6:00 PM in Sydney, and 8:00 PM in New Zealand. ​Battle Royale and Zero Build modes are receiving dynamic gameplay modifiers through brand-new Match Overrides. Players can jump into chaotic encounters with the Big Heads Override or hide in plain sight using the Prop Hunt Override. Alongside these wild game modes, new Loot Hacks are joining the field, granting access to weapons and utility such as the Rocket Ram, Gold Banana, Tracking Visor, Holo Twister, Deadeye AR, and Wrecker Revolver. Character customization expands with three new S...
Level Up: Read More »

​Fortnite Adds 14 New Loot Hacker Sprites in Latest September Update

Fortnite players have a wave of new collectibles to hunt down today following the game's latest update. Epic Games has officially unlocked 14 new Loot Hacker Sprites , expanding the total collection to 15 after the previous release of the Loot Hacker Crown Sprite on September 3. ​Although these new Sprites were added to the game files during last week's v42.10 update, they are finally going live now.  ​Complete List of New Sprites Added ​The new lineup includes several iconic gaming and character-themed variants, such as Sonic, Shadow, and Tails: ​ Loot Hacker Jonesy Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Adventure Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Bush Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Sonic Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Tails Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Shadow Sprite ​ Loot Hacker 8-Bit Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Jackrabbit Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Killswitch Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Klombo Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Overshield Sprite ​ Loot Hacker X-Ray Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Onigiri Sprite ​ Loot Hacker Storm Scout Sprite ​How Loot H...
Level Up: Read More »

Modern Warfare 4 Pre-Order Bonus: Call of Duty Unveils the "Inner Circuit" M4 Blueprint

Activision and Infinity Ward have officially revealed a new digital pre-order incentive for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, introducing the Inner Circuit M4 Weapon Blueprint. Scheduled for global launch on Friday, October 23, 2026, the latest entry in the franchise is offering players early access to a customized M4 loadout built specifically for high-mobility, close-to-mid-range engagements, complete with a unique cosmetic twist tied to the twenty-fifth anniversary of Xbox. ​The Inner Circuit Blueprint features a platform-specific cosmetic execution while maintaining completely identical gameplay performance across all systems. Players who pre-order digitally on Xbox Series X|S receive a translucent OG Green finish designed as a direct tribute to classic translucent Xbox hardware. This see-through shell exposes the rifle's internal components, turning the underlying machinery into part of the visual aesthetic. On all other supported platforms, including PlayStation 5, Steam, Batt...
Level Up: Read More »